Porn, Politics and Soccer

Posted on Nov 14, 2010

Who says you can’t mix politics and pleasure? The former chairman of Barcelona’s football (soccer) team has created a new Catalonian separatist party. His strategy is to use the Barcelona team’s fame and the support of the area’s most popular porn star to win an upcoming regional election.

The ex-chairman, Joan Laporta, is not the only football figure to vie for political power. Mauricio Macri, former head of the Buenos Aires soccer legends Boca Juniors, is head of government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Despite Macri’s right-wing agenda, many poorer Boca fans voted for him based on his club affiliation. —JCL

The Guardian:

A former chairman of Barcelona football club has launched himself on a political career as a populist Catalan separatist, whose backers include the region’s most famous porn star.

Former club chairman Joan Laporta hopes the popularity garnered by two Champions League wins and four Spanish league titles can be turned into votes when Catalans choose a new regional government on 28 November.

His aim is to break Catalonia away from the rest of Spain and create a newly independent state. “It is time to win our independence and administer our own resources,” the 48-year-old lawyer said as campaigning for the elections started last week.